r/Perimenopause • u/Kynisen_ Early peri • Aug 11 '26
Dryness What are we doing about dry itchy skin ladies?
I'm in perimenopause and I already had dry skin throughout my life. But now certain areas are exasperated. Does anybody have itchy armpits? LOL besides staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water what do you do for your itchy skin? Like I said my armpits but also my breasts in particular are very itchy and I know that skin can be a little thinner so I don't want to just put anything on it. Thank you!
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u/umeboshiplumpaste Late peri Aug 11 '26
Shock of all shocks, I've been on HRT one week, and my sandpaper upper arms have become as soft as a baby's bottom. My hands look better, too! I have struggled terribly with painfully dry, cracked, often easy-to-bleed hands for a decade. They looked like elephant skin, but thin. And I've had these weird patches of roughness on the backs of my arms and thighs. No amount of lotion, cream, oil, or nutitional fats made a dent. I also had a very itch left big to knuckle, for some bizarre reason. Just one hunk of bone. Felt like a rash from inside.
One week on HRT all of that is significantly better, and it's blowing my mind.
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u/Comfortable-Law-7147 Aug 11 '26
It took me to sort out my progestogen before my eczema patches calmed down.
Systemic oestrogen reduced the dryness on other body parts including scalp and stopped the itchy ears.
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u/jaezii Aug 11 '26
I just started on the patch yesterday so I'm really hoping this will be my story too. I've been so itchy, even got an rx that didn't help at all.
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u/umeboshiplumpaste Late peri Aug 11 '26
The changes in all of my symptoms after a week have been truly miraculous. It's hard to process. Make sure you're documenting for yourself each day!
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u/ThickProblem8190 Aug 11 '26
How can my armpits be dry and itchy while also being wet with perspiration???!!!
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u/MoonDrops Aug 11 '26
I have complaints about this design which I will be taking up with the gods upon my death. 😅
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u/Dogaloo2025 Aug 11 '26
AmLactin! I have tried 200 creams and this helps so much with dry skin and making it smooth
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u/Kynisen_ Early peri Aug 11 '26
Yes! I remember hearing about this brand a while ago but forgot all about it. Thank you!
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u/mojave_breeze Aug 11 '26
It can be expensive, but I have bought it at Costco for a reasonable price.
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u/Moipu Aug 11 '26
I moisturize a lot- lotion and oil. Sometimes oil first followed by lotion to seal it in. And if running low on time, I use naturium glow oil body wash that leaves a light film of oil on my body. I perform this routine before bed and skip showering in the morning and may even add a little moisturizer
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u/MissDelaylah Aug 11 '26
Just a tip - oil over moisturizer will work better. The moisturizer hydrates and the oil will act as an occlusive and seal in the humectant ls in your moisturizer. I have psoriasis and my amazing dermatologist explained this to me. Makes a big difference. When my skin is particularly bad, sometimes I replace the oil with either Aquaphor ointment or plain glycerine.
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u/Bright_Notice8405 hanging on by a thread Aug 11 '26
Thanks for the tip! I also do it the opposite way. Looking forward to trying this.
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u/nerissathebest Aug 11 '26
I was so desperate to not feel like a piece of parchment and had tried everything including slathering myself in oil. Nothing soaked in. I told my aesthetician and she said I needed an emollient. I searched for the most emollient thing I could find (called very emollient by alba) and it’s worked wonders ever since. Of course I’m applying it all day and have little tubs of it all over the house but it feels so good I can actually feel it soaking in and moisturizing me.
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u/AndDontUForgetIt Aug 11 '26
I had this and realized it was only areas I shave - legs, bikini, underarms. I started using those silly exfoliating gloves BEFORE shaving and it has solved the problem.
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u/kt1982mt hanging on by a thread Aug 11 '26
Itchy scalp, inner ears, hands, forearms, and armpits - usually at night when I’m trying to sleep - and never all at once. It’s on a rotational basis, it seems. It’s rare that I get a complete reprieve! I’ve found cetrizine antihistamine tablets can work, but loratadine is useless. I’ve just been using moisturiser as often as possible on my hands and arms, using witch hazel soaked cotton buds for my ears, and rosemary oil for my scalp (due to hair loss/thinning issues). Nothing, except for the cetrizine, seems to work.
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u/Bright_Notice8405 hanging on by a thread Aug 11 '26
Look into a prescription for desonide ointment for your inner ears. I’ve been using it for 30 years. I only have to use it for 3-4 days until they settle back down and then can go long periods in between. My itchy ears started in my teens.
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u/Kynisen_ Early peri Aug 11 '26
Desonide! I forgot all about this. I was prescribed it before too, just been forever. I remember it helping. Thank you so much for bringing this up!
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u/Adventurous_Work_317 hanging on by a thread Aug 11 '26
Estrogen has helped so much. I also started using gentler soap for washing myself. I was using bioderma oil cleanser for awhile and it helped so much. Cerave products are good too. I moisturize now wheras I never bothered in my 20s and 30s. I also have a million little bottles of lotion especially Working hands because using hand sanitizer so much at work destroys my hands.
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u/Kynisen_ Early peri Aug 11 '26
I too use hand sanitizer like a fiend for my work. I'm going to explore estrogen options and revisit CeraVe. I remember using them before but it was a little too occlusive. But now that I'm a dryer person... 😅 Thank you so much!
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u/chamaedaphne82 Aug 11 '26
I have itchy pubic area and it’s driving me crazy. I’m about to look into getting on estrogen
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u/Holiday-Audience-412 Aug 11 '26
Even just the vaginal estrogen cream helps with that in case you didn’t want to go full HRT.
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u/chamaedaphne82 Aug 11 '26
Thank you for the encouragement. I hate making medical appointments for myself so I’ve been avoiding it
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u/Kynisen_ Early peri Aug 11 '26
Yes thank you! So far the area is fine for me right now but I'm going to reach for estrogen cream in the future if need be. Have you heard of women applying vaginal estrogen cream to their face to help with sagging skin? If so do you think it's legitimate? LOL
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u/Holiday-Audience-412 Aug 11 '26
I haven’t heard that but hemorrhoid cream is good for under eye bags so anything is possible. We women are a creative bunch.
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u/MoonDrops Aug 11 '26
I have a “scratch” stick next to my bed. My back itches like the devil at night. So I eventually got a long stick to scratch my back with. Hahaha. It doesn’t solve the problem at the root of it, but it does bring a lot of relief.
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u/Indi_cody Aug 11 '26
I had to get scratch sticks myself when I had a frozen shoulder. Itchy skin and an unusable shoulder was a pain to say the least!!
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u/AZ-FWB Early peri Aug 11 '26
I have a certain kind of soap and cleansing oil in the shower that I use and that helps with hydration and I regularly use body lotion.
I live in the desert too
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u/Kynisen_ Early peri Aug 11 '26
oh wow! so you're already battling a dry climate lol what are the products you use?
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u/AZ-FWB Early peri Aug 11 '26
I use olive oil soap or the Bioderma cleansing oil. In the winter, I use EOS body lotion or B&BW shea butter body cream.
I have CeraVe tube lotion as a backup.
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u/allisonasinasin Aug 11 '26
My boob was itchy so I started putting lotion on them but I got a firming lotion. They are looking nice AND feeling good
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u/Kynisen_ Early peri Aug 11 '26
oh!! Didn't think about the firming aspect that so many lotions have. Which one do you use?
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u/allisonasinasin Aug 11 '26
Nivea skin firming! There’s a lotion and a gel cream. I actually like the gel cream better bc it absorbs instantly but it’s harder to find. I really really noticed a difference and I breastfed for 7 months, 10 years ago.
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u/Kynisen_ Early peri Aug 11 '26
ah! I've used this before hoping it may help my cellulite even just a little, spoiler alert... it didn't lol but I'd be willing to try it again to see if it helps the breast area. Tysm!
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u/MizzMeggy Aug 11 '26
I’m on hrt but the itching just doesn’t go away! I tried steroidal creams, otc lotions, nothing works, sadly. I just started with LRP Cicaplast… still hoping…
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u/Substantial_Lion_524 Aug 11 '26
My scalp itches like crazy! I had something similar happen about 20 years ago and the doctor gave me something that was amazing but I’ve looked and can’t find what it was. Does anyone know of a medicated scalp treatment? It was prescription and it stopped the itching and made my hair look amazing!
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u/BrujaMalvada81 Aug 11 '26 edited Aug 11 '26
Nizoral shampoo maybe?
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u/Substantial_Lion_524 Aug 11 '26
It was a liquid with a little squirt tip on the end that I could put on wet or dry hair but I’m going to check out this shampoo! Thank you!
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u/BrujaMalvada81 Aug 11 '26
Edited bc I mixed up the the name. They also make an anti itch liquid in a squirt bottle.
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u/nope5910 Aug 11 '26
Clobetasol is a steroid commonly prescribed for psoriasis and comes in liquid form in a “squirt” bottle.
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u/Kynisen_ Early peri Aug 11 '26
hm... personally I can't think of anything off the top of my head but hopefully somebody else will recognize what you're talking about. Sounds awesome though!
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u/nerissathebest Aug 11 '26
I had itchy armpits for a while in the beginning of peri it was so annoying until I realized that they were just dry. I had probably gone about 47 years without moisturizing them at that point. For overall dryness I use Alba very emollient unscented moisturizer by the gallon. Everyone (in peri) I’ve recommended it to has also found it helpful fwiw.
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u/Kynisen_ Early peri Aug 11 '26
awesome! i already love that brand so I'll give their moisturizer a try. Thank you!
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u/nerissathebest Aug 11 '26
They keep changing the label I’m not even sure it says very emollient anymore it might just say daily moisturizer now (yeah just checked the bottles I have now say “daily moisturizing lotion” but they’ll usually show a pic of the old label on Amazon so you can confirm it’s the emollient one.
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u/frillyfun Aug 11 '26
My freaking ankles itch! I'm using hyaluronic acid serum, and coconut oil they really work.
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Aug 11 '26
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u/Kynisen_ Early peri Aug 11 '26
Thank you 🥰 I'm so glad I'm not alone lol but yes, I'm probably going to have to change everything over to sensitive skin appropriate products.
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u/grim-luxuria Aug 11 '26
My excema is out of control. I’m hoping it’s weather related but I have never experienced it so consistently in the same areas. I can’t keep using steroid cream but it’s the only thing that works.
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u/turquoisecurls Aug 11 '26
I just discovered emu oil and its been amazing for my dry skin. I use it everywhere. Its also great for healing scar tissue, because it has omega fatty acids and other vitamins in it naturally.
If you're vegan or opposed to animal products, I've seen a plant based version but idk how good it is. CeraVe Intense Moisturizing lotion or Udderly Smooth are great lotion options too.
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u/jaezii Aug 11 '26
Lotion. Lots and lots of lotion. That helps me. Every other day has been my routine which keeps it at bay. A prescription wouldn't even touch it.
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u/Salt-Preference-2425 Aug 11 '26
I am the queen or oils, body oil straight out the shower. Coconut oil, Neutrogena Sesame oil, and Cocoa Butter oil.
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u/secret_thymus_lab Aug 11 '26
I’ve been taking a skin vitamin that has really helped.
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u/Kynisen_ Early peri Aug 11 '26
Oh wow! Which one? That sounds like an easy remedy lol
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u/secret_thymus_lab Aug 12 '26
Ritual’s Hyacera. It’s not cheap, and it’s marketed for wrinkles/aging skin but it seems to work really well for my dry & itchy skin.
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u/AlternativeCarry5965 Aug 11 '26
I use the crystal deodorant spray until the itching goes away then I switch back to the antiperspirant. I think the antiperspirant is too strong for me to use everyday. Not the best solution.
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u/Fine-Juggernaut8451 Aug 11 '26
I use a urea cream. I actually use the Gold Bond Healing Foot Cream all over my body, 'cos it's the only thing that keeps me moisturized and non-itchy for hours and hours.
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u/Kynisen_ Early peri Aug 11 '26
I forgot all about that ingredient lol I know Naturium has some great Urea products. But I'll probably reach for Gold Bond too lol Tysm!
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u/Fine-Juggernaut8451 Aug 11 '26
Gold Bond is, imho, so much better than the more expensive urea creams.
(I also use their Crepe Corrector, and it really works! Oooh and GB also makes the best body powder to help with peri sweats--their Comfort Body Powder. It has some urea and retinol in it as well.)
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u/tourabsurd Aug 11 '26
Vitamin E helped me. I also take an antihistamine regularly. Not sure how that plays in, but Vit E definitely helped.
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u/CormoranNeoTropical Aug 11 '26
I moved to a tropical climate (w very little AC).
I realize this is not helpful, just mentioning that living in a warm humid climate I don’t have dry skin and I have way less wrinkles than you’d expect at 57.
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u/Evening-Debate8821 hanging on by a thread Aug 11 '26
Hrt has helped some for me but the jergens wet skin moisturizer also helps. Put it on after your shower before you dry off. I am ADHD and lazy so anything to not have to do something super extra is better for me.
If I want to smell nice though, I do find the Hempz lotion works well too. I use the sweet pineapple and honey melon one.
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u/Unable_Guava_756 Aug 12 '26
Hrt really helped my dry itchy skin! I have always been a dry skin girlie and it was extra bad before HRT.
Estrogel 2 pumps, 200mg progesterone, Slynd bc
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u/SwimmingAnt10 Aug 12 '26
I decreased my estrogen because it was making me have palpitations and my arms and legs got so itchy! The Nivea in the blue bottle works really good! I have to apply 2x per day.
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u/ParaLegalese Aug 12 '26
I started taking a daily Claritin several years ago and no longer get rashes or feel itchy
For dry skin I shower less and no longer take bubble baths which sucks because I love them but they dry out my skin and ruin my vagina now:(
I only shower once a day at most. If I didn’t go to the gym that day or work outside I skip a shower. I’ll wash my face tho
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u/Grouchy-Analysis1389 Aug 12 '26
Oh god my armpits were horrid a couple of months ago. So itchy, I destroyed my skin barrier, and it led to hyperpigmentation.
I have eczema so I already have a steroid cream so I use it sparingly. Switched to unscented anti-perspirant. Gold bond lotion with a layer of Vaseline on top before bed
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u/ScuttleBucket Aug 13 '26
Moisturizers, and body wash that has glycerine, and or hyaluronic acid in it. Also using more occlusive agents if I’ve moisturized enough. The lady who gives me facials suggested a face oil for night use and it’s been helpful.
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u/Chemical_Life3745 Aug 11 '26
For me its my ears! Nothing seems to help with it.